Architecture for secure IoT interactions

Abstract

A method and system corresponding to a secure architecture for executing Internet of Things (IoT) device actions using blockchains is described. A network of IoT devices can manage two blockchains. The first blockchain can store operational data, collected from the IoT devices and written to the first blockchain. A second blockchain can be used to store action data.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 providing, by a first device to a node in a network of nodes, operational data, wherein the nodes in the network of nodes are Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and wherein the first device causes writing of the operational data to a first blockchain; 
 determining, by the first device, a first device action; 
 generating, by the first device, a message comprising the first device action; 
 broadcasting, by the first device to the nodes in the network of nodes, the message comprising the first device action, wherein the nodes in the network of nodes determine whether the first device action is valid by using a consensus algorithm, wherein the consensus algorithm determines that the nodes in the network of nodes agree that the operational data is consistent with the first device action; 
 causing, by the first device, writing of the first device action to a second blockchain; and 
 executing, by the first device, the first device action. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first device action relates to operation of the first device. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the nodes in the network of nodes are appliances, and the operational data comprises communication data, use data, or energy consumption data related to the appliances. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first device action comprises initiating an interaction with a resource provider computer. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nodes in the network of nodes cryptographically sign the first device action after determining that the first device action is valid. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the consensus algorithm is part of a smart contract. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first blockchain and the second blockchain are stored in every node in the network of nodes. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first device is an appliance. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nodes in the network of nodes determine that the first device action is valid by determining whether the operational data for at least two nodes in the network of nodes are inconsistent with the first device action. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network of nodes comprise a plurality of appliances, and wherein the first device action is written to the second blockchain only when the first device action is valid. 
     
     
       11. A first device comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a non-transitory computer readable medium coupled to the processor, the non-transitory computer readable medium comprising code executable by the processor for implementing a method comprising: 
 providing, to a node in a network of nodes, operational data, wherein the nodes in the network of nodes are Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and wherein the first device causes writing of received operational data to a first blockchain; 
 determining a first device action; 
 generating a message comprising the first device action; 
 broadcasting, to the nodes in the network of nodes, the message comprising the first device action, wherein the nodes in the network of nodes determine whether the first device action is valid by using a consensus algorithm, wherein the consensus algorithm determines that the nodes in the network of nodes agree that the operational data is consistent with the first device action; 
 causing writing of the first device action to a second blockchain; and 
 executing the first device action. 
 
     
     
       12. The first device of  claim 11 , wherein the first device comprises one or more sensors for generating the operational data. 
     
     
       13. The first device of  claim 11 , wherein the first device is a washing machine. 
     
     
       14. The first device of  claim 11 , wherein the first device comprises one or more actuators that are capable of executing the first device action. 
     
     
       15. The first device of  claim 11 , wherein the first device comprises a communications interface for communicating with the nodes in the network of nodes. 
     
     
       16. The first device of  claim 11 , wherein the first blockchain and the second blockchain are stored in the computer readable medium. 
     
     
       17. The first device of  claim 11 , wherein the consensus algorithm is part of a smart contract. 
     
     
       18. The first device of  claim 11 , wherein the computer readable medium comprises an ordering module. 
     
     
       19. The first device of  claim 11 , wherein the computer readable medium comprises a blockchain interface application. 
     
     
       20. The first device of  claim 11 , wherein the computer readable medium comprises an actuator control module.